Bear-proof your property to avoid bruin trouble

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is urging the public to take the steps needed to keep conflicts to a minimum as bears emerge from their dens.

“When they come out, they will be hungry and in search of available food sources as they try to fuel up again to gain weight,” BCCOS deputy chief Chris Doyle said Thursday during a teleconference with provincial media.

“So it’s super important for people to ensure there are no non-natural foods for bears to find.

To that end, he said garbage should be kept in bear-proof containers, or inside the house, garage or shed until pickup and then returned to the secured location once emptied.

He said bird feeders should be taken down now that winter is over and any nuts and seeds that have fallen on the ground should be cleaned up. Pet food should be kept inside as well.

And barbecues should be kept clean throughout the spring, summer and fall.

As for protecting backyard chickens, high-value fruit trees and bee hives, Doyle recommended electric fencing.

Doyle said it’s illegal under the Wildlife Act to feed or attract dangerous wildlife such as bears and can lead to a fine as high as $100,000 and as much as one year in jail.

He said conservation officers will be enforcing the law by issuing wildlife protection orders and violation tickets to those who create problems by failing to clean up their yards.

“It’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure bears don’t have to be destroyed for public safety reasons,” Doyle said.

He was unwilling to speculate on how the high snowpack will affect bears’ behaviour.

“Some bears may stay in the den longer but what might also happen is the bears that do emerge, they will be searching out whatever food they can find and that may drive them into residential areas if all the natural food is covered in snow,” Doyle said.

“So it’s really important that residents and businesses secure any type of attractant that may bring a bear into the community.”

More information on how to reduce trouble with bears can be found at wildsafebc.com.

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Doyle said a dozen snowmobilers were charged for riding in an area closed off for protection of caribou. He said all are from Alberta and were riding in the Wells Grey conservancy near Blue River.

“Caribou are easily disturbed by snowmobiles and snowmobile tracks also make it easier for predators to hunt caribou,” he said.

Conservation officers have also noticed “significant” failure to register snowmobiles under the province’s Off-Road Vehicle Act. Doyle said 200 charges have been laid for ORV Act offences since January.

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Fishers are reminded to renew their freshwater angler licences.

“Conservation officers will be patrolling B.C.’s lakes and rivers to ensure compliance with licencing requirements, gear restrictions and catch limits,” Doyle said. Officers will also be ticketing anglers caught littering as happened this week in the Kootenays, Doyle said, when an angler was seen leaving a tangled fishing line under a rock by a river.